Clamp



Dec. 1, 1925 J. A. JOHNSTON ET AL CLAMP Filed r L m.2. 9 3 9r 5 z a d d J 4 Z 6 k Jr 2 10 II mmwfl I 9 z Wfi m 6 g 1 j W w 7 4 art Walt.

m. W 7 5 M M 7 J5 W J. A. JOHNSTON ET AL CLAMP Filed Sept. 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Una v mam: 7

Patented l,

mares CLAIR/LE.

Application filed September 4, 1924.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we. Joan A. Jorrns'r'on' and ROBERT E. Mom, both citizens of the United States, both residing at lVorcestcr, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Clamp, of which the following is a specilication.

This invent-ion relates to a clamp especially designed for a washing machine of the type in which the articles to be washed are run between fluted rolls over and over in order to perform the washing operation and especially to the application of such a washing machine to any kind of a washing tub. The clamp however, is capable of general use.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an improved form of clamp suit-.

able for use on a washing machine of the type mentioned adapted to be constructed as a separate unit by which .it can be mounted in a washing tub; to provide means for supporting it at one end of such a character that it can be fixedly secured in a circular tub whether of cylindrical or conical shape or in a set tub having either a vertical or inclined flat front wall to which the washing machine is to be secured; and to provide especially an improved form of bracket for connection with the washing machine and for being secured detachably to the wall of the tub. The bracket itself is constructed so as to be adjustable to correspond with the shape and location of the wallof the tub to which it is to be secured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings, in which Fig. l is a plan of a washing machine and supporting means constructed. in accordance with this invention and arranged to be applied to a circular tub;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same showing it applied to a set tub or other tub having an inclined wall and showing the tub in cross-section;

Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe washing machine separate from the tub showing it in its normal position when applied to a flat vertical wall; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same with the vertical wall of the tub in section.

The washing machine itself comprises a frame having two vertical end walls 10, a

Serial No. 735,897.

bottom 11 and side walls also preferably vertical and intended to be set down into a washing tub so that the water will rise above the pair of fluted rolls 15 located near the bottom of the washing machine. These cooperate with the main central fluted roll 16 mounted on a shaft 17 which is provided with a c'ank 17" that extends ova the edge of the tub so that this roll can be operated by the crank located in a convenient position. Hung on this shaft 17 is a bracket 18 at each end having two recesses in the bottom in either of which the shaft can be located. Each of these brackets has a rod 19 extending down from it and screwthreaded for adjustment and provided with a coil spring 19 upon it resting on the head 20 of the rod which is located below the bottom of the washing machine preferably. At the top this spring supports a screw eye 21 which screws into an end wall 10 of the washing machine to hold down the.

shaft 17 yieldingly so that the roll. 16 will bear against therolls 15 with any desired degree of pressure. The walls 11) are provided with vertical slots 22 in which the shaft 17 is located and in which it is free to move vertically. Two rolls 23 are also located below the roll 16. This constitutes the washing machine itself.

An important part of this invention lies in the means for supporting the machine frame at one end. For this purpose there are mounted at the opposite dges of the front end wall 10 a pair of vertical pivot rods 25 spaced apart. On these rods swing a pair of frames 26 so that they can move about the axis of these rods into the straight forward position shown in Figs. 3 and l or in angular position, as indicated in. 1. The pivotal action is provided by a series of screw eyes 27 fixed to one end wall. 10 through which the rod 25 passes, these being screwed respectively into the edges of the end wall 10 and into the frames 26.

At the bottom each frame 26 is provided with a horizontal pivot pin 28 and on these pivot pins are pivoted through vertical slots brackets 29 extending upwardly from the pivot pins. These brackets have rods 29 at the top on which are pivoted eye bolts 30 which are screwed into screw eyes 31 on the tops of the frames 26 so that the brackets 29 can be located at any desired angle to the vertical, by swinging them about their pivots 28 and adjusting the bolts 30. Each bracket 29 has an extension 35 thereon parallel with it and spaced from it by a block 36 secured by bolts 3?. On the lower end of this extension is a clamping screw 38 which is shown especially in Fig. 2 as adapted to clamp against the inclined or vertical side of the tub.

In the use of the device if the wall of the tub is straight and vertical the two brackets 29 are swung into a position parallel with the sine walls 12 of the tub, as shown in Figs. 8 and 4-. Then the brackets 29 are adjusted to a vertical position where they come against the inside of the tub and the screws 88 are adjusted to clamp the brackets in position. As the brackets are spaced apart they hold the washing machine rigidly at this end. At the other end it is unsupported or rests on the rear wall of the tub. If the device is used on a round tub the two brackets are swung out to radial positions, as shown in Fig. 1, and the same clamping action provided. If the wall of the tub is slanting as shown in Fig. 2, the bracket 29 is swung out to the same inclination as the wall of the tub and clamped in position, as described above, and as shown in that figure.

In this way the washing machine is applicable to tubs of all kinds and can be clamped firmly in position so that it will not vibrate or move from one place to another on the tub. This permits of mounting it rigidly in position on any tub and its operation by the handle 17 in the ordinary way.

Although we have illustrated and described only one form of the invention we are aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described. but what we do claim is 1. The combination with a fluted roll washing machine having a frame adapted to be placed in a tub. of a pain of vertical pivots at one end of the machine spaced apart, a pair of frames pivoted on said pivots and extending downwardly there from and each having a horizontal pivot, and a pair of clamps pivoted on the horizontal pivots for clamping the machine to the wall of the tub.

2. In a clamp, the combination of a frame having a pivot, a frame pivoted on said pivot and extending therefrom and having a transverse pivot at the end, a bracket pivoted on the transverse pivot, an extension spaced from the bracket and extending therefor-m, and means at the end of the extension for clamping it to a wall or the like.

8. The combination with a washing machine having a frame adapted to be placed in a. tub, of a vertical pivot at one end of the machine, a frame pivoted on said pivot and extending downwardly therefrom and having a. horizontal pivot at the bottom, a bracket pivoted on the horizontal pivot, an extension spaced from the bracket a distance grea"er than the width of the wall of the tub and extending downwardly therefrom parallel with the bracket, and means at the lower end of the extension for clamping it to the wall of the tub in vertical or inclined position.

The combination with a washing machine having a frame adapted to be placed in a receptacle, of a frame extending down- "vvardly therefrom and having a horizontal pivot at the bottom, a bracket pivoted on the horizontal pivot, an extension spaced from the bracket a distance greater than the width of the wall of the receptacle and eX tending downwardly therefrom, and means at the lower end of the extension for clamping it to the wall of the receptacle in vertical or inclined position.

5. The combination with a washing machine having a frame adapted to be placed in a tub, of a pair of frames connected therewith and extending downwardly there from and each having a pivot at the bottom, a pair of brackets pivoted on'the pivots for connecting the machine to the wall of the tub, an extension spaced from each bracket and extending downwardly therefrom, and means at the lower end of each extension for clamping it to the wall of the tub.

(3. The combination with a fluted 'roll washing machine having a frame ad; fa ed to be placed in a tub, of a pair of nines connected with said frame and extending downwardly therefrom and each having a horizontal pivot, and a pair of clamps pivoted on the horizontal pivots for clamping the machine to the wall of the tub.

In testimony whereof we have therennto affixed our signatures.

JOHN A. JOHNSTON. ROBERT E. MOLT. 

